Teachers potentially striking again

[CitrusSparklePinkClouds]

Teachers want a pay rise above the rate of inflation this time.

1. Yes, don't we all?!
2. Haven't kids missed enough school?

But it is now that the strikes are needed. Asking nicely doesn’t seem to be working.

@Pumperthepumper not all workers are in a position to take industrial action. There are people a lot worse off than teachers. Striking hurts them & their kids. Why is this complicated to understand?

Why is striking now unacceptable?

I see you’re persistently refusing to address the question of what the word ‘again’ means in your title - when was the last teachers’ strike?

Support staff are hard to recruit as pay so low. Children with SEN will not be supported appropriately if that issue is not sorted out. Support staff I know wouldn't strike but still should be paid enough not to see other jobs as only way to live (retail, etc).

I'm another who would like the OP to answer this question.

I’m a teacher who is reasonably comfortable because my DH earns considerably more than I do. Many of my colleagues are the higher earner in their families and they struggle. It’s a professional job that requires lots of additional hours of work and study…and the money really doesn’t reflect that. This week, on top of my contracted hours, on Monday evening I was on a 2.5hr course, Tuesday evening, taught a free after school sports club and tonight I am leading a meeting at 5pm with parents to discuss the residential camp.

Extra money in teacher’s pockets quite often makes it into the classroom anyway. I regularly put my own hand in my pocket for the class. Aside from the £££ spent on better resources for the classroom; I also fund a constant supply of fruit and cereal bars for pupils who are not getting enough to eat at home. This week, I’ve bought an extra leavers hoodie as there was one pupil who couldn’t afford one and I couldn’t stand seeing him being the only child in the class without one. I gave another pupil bus fare because their adult hadn’t given it to them and they live on the other side of the city.

Why shouldn’t we strike for our fair share? The Government always finds money to ensure they’re well paid.

Yes. Agreed this issue needs sorting. But adding to the shitshow we are all currently facing as a country is not the answer imo.

I worked throughout the pandemic - no days off plus I ran catch up evening sessions for the exam classes last year to help them catch up - for free not as part of any funded catch up scheme. As things stand after all my bills I have 30 pounds left a week to spend on what I want. My car is shit, I haven't gone on holiday abroad for over 15 years I live in an ex council house. I would have an easier time of it working part time and claiming benefits. I get good results and am proud of what I do - but I shouldn't be struggling to live and therefore will go on strike.

I'm a teacher and the train strikes have had a terrible effect on me.

I still support those strikes. Because it is sometimes the only way to raise pay and improve conditions.

The people making all the money - those who have just had their tax contributions slashed - want you to do exactly what you're doing: oppose the strikes. Insist that teachers are greedy, lazy, and (bizarrely) couldn't care less about what's best for children.

Have you told the rail staff that they shouldn't strike?

So it’s fine if other professions strike but just not school staff?

'Again'?

Please enlighten me 🤷‍♀️🤣 I'm afraid I must have missed the many strikes you appear to be alluding to over my 29 year career (as a teacher!) as I've never been on strike!

I do recall there being one, very early on in my career, but it wasn't my union who were striking, so I went in, as did most teachers at my school. There were three members of staff picketing outside. We took them cups of tea and words of encouragement at break time 💪

There was a teachers strike throughout my secondary education on and off but that’s was late 80s early 90s so going back abit. It wasn’t an all out walk out though we just didn’t have the extra things like school trips. Some schools all kids had to go home every day at lunch. There was the odd afternoon where a teacher you were timetabled for was on strike and we just all went in dinner hall and were supervised by the head. Not sure if theres been one since as I was out of the loop after leaving school, ore kids

I'm not sure you understand striking. I am a teacher and I am personally happy with my own pay. However, the rate of pay for teachers is poor enough that the teachers we can recruit are not all fit to teach. So perhaps in our school we have 3 teachers who we would not have hired, but were desperate. Their teaching damages the children. I care about these 90 kids and think they deserve better, so I do intend to strike.

Teachers worked through covid. I ran home learning, making video lessons daily. I also went to school every day and looked after the children of key workers.

In my spare time, I delivered school work and food parcels (in my own car, using my own petrol) to our families.

What happens to your children (and your ability to work since you seem to use it as childcare) when all of the teaching staff quit due to unfair pay and conditions?

Do you support others striking? National rail? Or does that not affect you?

It isn’t hard to understand. It does hurt, yes, BUT:

The state of education hurts all kids much much more than one day off.

the disruption caused to parents - turn that anger into the policymakers who’ve pushed the strikers into desperation. The strikers lose a day of pay that a lot of them can’t afford.

A lot of good teachers have already left the profession. Wouldn’t you rather it was for a day than for good?

I personally can’t afford to send my DC to private school so have a vested interest in teachers trying to improve state education.

@CitrusSparklePinkClouds
Sorry that you have another childcare while the teachers are fighting for their rights! What’s that bitterness about lockdowns? Do you recon teachers and support stuff had no rights to stay safe? Lots of office workers STILL working from home and had throughout the whole pandemic.

Your child/ren won’t get any education when there isn’t enough teachers to educate them. I don’t think you realise how bad it is.

Also already underfunded schools are expected to find the current pay ‘rise’. Which is ridiculous when they can’t even find resources and support staff properly!

If some of us strike, we lose our jobs.

Yes sure teachers need higher pay.
So do care workers, supermarket staff, charities, cleaners....

Striking means we all have to take up the slack. Many of us are on less pay than teachers. We are exhausted.

Please. Don't. Strike.

FYI I support anyone striking for a decent cost of living rise while this government continue to make us poorer and the rich even more wealthy!

NHS Staff ( me) and doctors are voting too.

i support teachers striking in order that the government funds a pay rise in line with inflation.

@CitrusSparklePinkClouds
So what’s the alternative? Do you have any other great ideas?

Then careworkers , supermarket staff, charities and cleaners should strike too!

It is perfectly reasonable for millionaires to get a tax break, but most unreasonable for those responsible for educating our children to want a fair wage.